M A G A Z I N E
Pictured (l-r) Greg Hurst, Charlie Scott, Governor Nathan Deal, Jeff Mills
November/December 2012
Person of the Year Piedmont Henry Hospital
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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CONTENTS NOV/DEC 2012
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features
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Person of the Year
Southern Journal Magazine is pleased to introduce to you the winner of the Henry County 2012 Person of the Year Award. This year’s award goes not to a “person,” but to a group of extraordinary people who make up the body and soul of one of Henry County’s most influential organizations – Piedmont Henry Hospital. Read more about the impact PHH has on our community. 3
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First Priority
This unique organization is a student-lead campus ministry. It is Christ-centered and focused on teens bringing the Gospel – the Good News – to other teens. This goal is accomplished through a four step process called FISH: Focus, Inspire, Share and Hook. Allow Dee Dee McIntyre to tell you more about this fresh, innovative approach to sharing Christ with a searching generation.
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TOTO
The largest plumbing products manufacturer is right next door in Morrow, Georgia. This influential Clayton County business produces over 20,000 toilets monthly. This is accomplished within a facility that is dedicated to being as environmentally “green” as possible. These efforts were recently recognized and lauded by the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers (CRK). The CRK named TOTO as one of the 2012 “Best in Class – Business.” Hats off to TOTO for being good stewards of our natural resources.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM • WWW.HMAGAZINE.BIZ
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CONTENTS NOV/DEC 2012
departments 7 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 9 CONTRIBUTORS 11 PERSON OF THE YEAR: PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL 13 PERSON OF THE YEAR: CHARLIE SCOTT 17 PERSON OF THE YEAR: JEFF MILLS 19 PERSON OF THE YEAR: GREG HURST
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21 BUSINESS PROFILE: EDWARD JONES 25 PERSON OF THE YEAR: STEERING COMMITTEE
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29 GEORGIA ON MY MIND 36 TIMBERRIDGE 37 CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
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41 TAKING HOPE TO HAITI 43 FIRST PRIORITY 45 BUSINESS PROFILE: STATE FARM 47 SOUTHERN CRESCENT CYCLING
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53 IN THE KITCHEN WITH GINNY 55 BUSINESS PROFILE: SHANE’S RIB SHACK 59 JESSICA SHOPS
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61 CHAPLAINS CORNER 65 BUSINESS PROFILE: RADIATION ONCOLOGY SERVICES 67 BUSINESS PROFILE: SACRED JOURNEY 69 BUSINESS PROFILE: DR. KLOS 73 BUSINESS PROFILE: DR. KING 77 BUSINESS PROFILE: CORRECTMED
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81 TOTO 93 BUSINESS PROFILE: VITAS 97 SUBSCRIBE NOW
PUBLISHER/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDITOR
Lisa Hunter lisa@southernjournalmag.com
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We welcome your company and community news. Please include digital photos with your press release and send to lisa@southernjournalmag.com. Forward product samples or press kits to the Publisher. We cannot be responsible for unsolicited product samples. Publisher does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein. Southern Journal Magazine is published bimonthly by Southern Journal Magazine, Inc. All content are copyrighted by Southern Journal Magazine and reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Southern Journal Magazine reserves liability in the event of an error to a printed correction.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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PUBLISHERS LETTER NOV/DEC 2012
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hank you!
photo by Picture This Studio
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e have received tremendous feedback about our transformation to Southern Journal Magazine. Thank you for all of the encouraging comments! It’s very exciting to our staff to extend our reach and begin to tell the stories from our neighboring communities – and so rewarding to continue to share news from our own “hometowns.” In this issue we are pleased to introduce
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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
the 2012 Henry County Person of the Year – Piedmont Henry Hospital (PHH). As the only full-service hospital – and one of the largest employers and financial giants in our community - Piedmont Henry Hospital has an enormous impact on the Henry County community. This past year has been a time of change, growth and improvement of services for PHH. We are pleased to share the stories of last year’s merger between Henry Medical Center and Piedmont Healthcare – and those who made it
happen. Please join us as we congratulate and thank Piedmont Henry Hospital for making a difference in the Henry County Community.
Lisa Hunter Publisher/Editorial Director lisa@southernjournalmag.com
OUR CONTRIBUTORS NOV/DEC 2012
Valerie Baldowski spent five years as a general assignment reporter writing for a chain of weekly metro Atlanta suburban newspapers, an additional year as a news editor for that same newspaper chain, and two years as the government reporter for a daily newspaper in Henry County.
Shana Latimer earned her M.A. in English from Georgia State University. She teaches Composition and World Literature at Luther Rice Seminary and University. In her free time, she writes poetry and fiction, and she enjoys traveling the world with her husband and two children.
Denese Rodgers whose background includes corporate and non-profit experience, is a long-time resident of Henry County. She is currently Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for local access Channel 15 SCB TV.
Beverly Van Gorder has lived in Henry County with her husband, Jim, since 1994. They have five children: James, Seth (both of whom are U.S. Marines), Margaret, Noah and Gabriel. She is the writer of our Operation Overseas and Chaplain’s Corner features. She is a Director with Legal Shield, formerly known as Pre-Paid Legal Services.
Louie Hunter a native of Marion, NC, is a contract lobbyist who has represented clients from multiple interests since 2007. Louie was elected to the Cobb Commission in 1999, and decided to return to politics as COO of InsiderAdvantage (political media) in 2005.
Brian Williams is a Program Development Specialist with Fulton County Health Services. He is a former television news reporter and producer. He also is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and the National Public Health Information Coalition.
Angel Maynard resides in Henry County and is the founder of RedPill Productions www.redpill-productions. com. She is a writer and producer whose work has been showcased at The New York Television Festival as well as California’s Indie Fest.
Diane Smith a native of Ohio, has enjoyed living in Henry County for nine years. She is mother to 16-year-old Travis. Diane works at Noah’s Ark in Locust Grove.
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Southern Journal Magazine is privileged and pleased to congratulate Piedmont Henry Hospital as the 2012 Henry County Person of the Year. This award was created to honor a person, group, concept or innovation that has done the most to influence the events of the year. Piedmont Henry Hospital first opened its doors in July, 1979 as Henry General Hospital. At that time, Henry was a small rural county with just over 35,000 residents. As the county grew in the 1990s, so did the hospital. In 1995 it became known as Henry Medical Center. In January, 2012 the hospital again underwent transformation with a merger with Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. It now proudly claims the name of Piedmont Henry Hospital (PHH). PHH is now a 215-bed non-for-profit hospital serving a county population of over 207,000. Piedmont Henry’s impact on the local community goes beyond providing excellent healthcare. According to the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), it generated $326 million in annual revenue for the local and state economy in recent years. The hospital also provided uncompensated care in the amount of $11 million, including unpaid costs of Medicaid and Medicare. PHH sustains approximately 3,500 jobs throughout Henry County and the state of Georgia. In addition, it “ripples” economic impact on other sectors such as medical suppliers, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Piedmont Henry Hospital will be recognized at the Henry County Person of the Year Award banquet on November 7, 2012. It will begin with a VIP reception for Governor Nathan Deal at 6:00 p.m. at the Eagles Landing Country Club. Family Medical Clinic is the presenting sponsor for this prestigious event. Congratulations to the administration and staff of Piedmont Henry Hospital for being named the Henry County 2012 Person of the Year!
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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
FEATURE
Jeff Mills
Charlie Scott
Greg Hurst
Steering Committee
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By Diane Smith | Photo by Picture This Studio
Charlie Scott
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FEATURE
LEADING THE WAY AT PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL In 2012, Henry Medical Center saw major change as it came under the umbrella of Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. Leading the hospital during this major transition is Charles “Charlie” F. Scott, President and CEO of the newly formed Piedmont Henry Hospital (PHH). He has served the hospital since 2007 and has a total of 37 years experience in hospital administration – 14 as a CEO.
• One service enhancement that took place this past spring was the expansion of the scope of services provided at the McDonough Urgent Care Center (now called Piedmont Outpatient Center) with the addition of laboratory services provided on site and the physical separation of Urgent Care from the Occupational Medicine program, allowing greater focus on each service.
Southern Journal Magazine asked Charlie Scott to share some insights about how the merger with Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. has changed the face of healthcare at Henry County’s only fullservice hospital. “This has been an extremely busy year at Piedmont Henry Hospital as we have actively moved forward with our integration into the Piedmont Healthcare system; have adopted many of Piedmont’s processes, policies, and procedures; and have made much progress toward improvement in a number of areas including finances, quality, patient safety, and clinical services expansion.”
• PHH recently upgraded its Cardiovascular Services Department by opening a new, state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Laboratory which can also function as a full-service Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
SOME OF THE NEW INITIATIVES INCLUDE: • Along with the rest of Piedmont Healthcare, PHH implemented the “Always Safe” patient safety initiative which is a comprehensive undertaking involving extensive education, tracking of metrics, use of daily “safety huddles,” and process changes, all designed to reduce or eliminate the incidence of infections and other hospital acquired conditions within the hospital. PHH has already seen a nice reduction in some of these metrics. • PHH has implemented a comprehensive service excellence process consisting of “service excellence coaches” provided by Piedmont, education of all staff, and implementation of certain actions proven to be effective in other hospitals in improving patient satisfaction.
• PHH recently renovated a couple of patient care units and expanded its medical/ surgical bed capacity to better accommodate growing numbers of patients coming to the hospital. What impact has the transition to Piedmont Henry Hospital had on our local community – and what impact will it have on Henry County’s healthcare future? Charlie Scott shared these thoughts: “These changes and initiatives, along with many others that are either in the works now or planned to be implemented in the future, will result, and in some cases already have resulted, in improvements in quality of care, patient safety, and patient satisfaction, as well as expanded clinical services, reduced costs, and improved financial status. Overall, the changes resulting from our affiliation with Piedmont Healthcare will greatly strengthen and improve our community hospital in many ways, better enabling us to fulfill our mission. The future of our hospital, and the provision of high-quality healthcare in Henry County and surrounding communities, is very bright.” What else does the future hold for PHH and the Henry County Community? • PHH plans to break ground this year
for a new physician’s center. This building will provide new, Class A medical office space on the hospital’s campus to accommodate physicians who wish to relocate closer to the hospital or new doctors coming into the community. It will be located next to the hospital with easy access to the interstate. • PHH, in conjunction with Piedmont Healthcare, has begun the planning process to develop the 48 acre tract of land owned by the hospital in Locust Grove into a medical campus to better serve the population who live in the southern part of Henry County and surrounding areas. • PHH is pursuing plans to become a Certified Stroke Center and an Accredited Chest Pain Center in order to enhance these services provided to our community. • PHH is planning, in conjunction with Piedmont Healthcare, to implement several major new I.T. systems, most notably an electronic medical record system that will result in enhancement of quality of care, better coordination of care, and improved efficiencies. And what was Charlie Scott’s reaction to Piedmont Henry Hospital being chosen as Southern Journal Magazine’s inaugural Person of the Year? “It is, indeed, a great honor for PHH to be selected as the first Person of the Year by Southern Journal Magazine. I believe this honor recognizes the hard work and tremendous effort that the Henry Medical Center’s Affiliation Steering Committee members, as well as many other people at the hospital and at Piedmont Healthcare, have undertaken to achieve our affiliation with Piedmont. It also recognizes the very positive impact this affiliation will have, and is already having, on the delivery of high-quality healthcare to residents of Henry County and surrounding communities. We greatly appreciate this honor.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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By Denese Rodgers | Photo by Picture This Studio
Jeff Mills
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FEATURE
He guided the creation of a process that was thorough and fair for both Henry Medical Center and for the entities that sought to partner with it. FROM COLONEL TO PRIVATE:
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etired Colonel Charles J. Mills, known to most as “Jeff,” is a graduate of West Point and served on active duty with the US Army Corps of Engineers for 23 years, including overseas tours of duty in Vietnam, Korea (twice), and Israel. Along the way, he received a Masters of Civil Engineering from MIT and an MBA from Long Island University. That all said, he still prefers to think of himself as a Private in the Army of the Lord. Just before his final year of studies at West Point, he met his wife, Janet, at a formal reception and dance, held in conjunction with a summer West Point training program conducted at five different Army bases. The cadets had opportunity to request a “blind date” for each of five receptions – and Janet captured his heart at the Ft. Knox reception (just the night after she had graduated from high school). They married in 1969, have four children and now share the joys of being grandparents to six grandchildren. Upon retiring from the service, Jeff worked another 20 years as a project manager and director of projects with Jordan, Jones, and Goulding - an engineering consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta.
He retired again in 2010, and began his third career as an integral part of the corps of volunteers that work in Henry County. Jeff teaches Sunday School and Wednesday Bible Classes at the First Baptist of Locust Grove. He serves on the Locust Grove Downtown Development Authority and is Chairman of the Locust Grove Historic Preservation Committee. He is Vice-Chair for the Board of the Academy for Advanced Studies. Since 2004, he has served on the Hospital Authority of Henry County and on the Henry Medical Center Operating Board. In 2010, the then-current Henry Medical Center Board Chairman, Steve Kay, asked Jeff if he would lead a group of HMC board members, employees, and physicians as Chairman of the Hospital Affiliation Steering Committee. He emphasized the importance of that choice: “As a Board, we clearly understood this was the second most significant decision in the hospital’s history; second only to the decision almost 40 years ago to build a hospital to serve Henry County.” Vice President and COO Jeff Cooper applauded that choice. “Jeff Mills provided outstanding leadership to the Affiliation Steering Committee throughout the affilia-
tion evaluation process. His commitment to the community we serve and our hospital’s future success was evident in his commitment of time, energy, and passion for such an important decision.” Chief of Staff, Dr. Todd Schmidt, was also a member of the Steering Committee. “Jeff could not have been a better choice for this. He guided the creation of a process that was thorough and fair for both Henry Medical Center and for the entities that sought to partner with it. He has an organizational skill that allowed the committee to identify and systematically evaluate dozens of factors that were considered important for the future of HMC.” As he took the helm of this new initiative, Jeff Mills recalls that, “I distinctly remember two immediate, semi-related thoughts: First, I thought that if I was able to get the right people on the committee – a ‘dream team,’ so to speak – it wouldn’t be a very difficult or time-consuming assignment.” He smiled as he continued, “We were indeed able to assemble a great group for the Affiliation Steering Committee, and they worked extremely hard and very well together. But it was still a lot more challenging than I first thought, and considerably more time-consuming. So much for being a prophet!”
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By Valerie Baldowski | Photo by Picture This Studio
Greg Hurst
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FEATURE
Keeping sights set on the patient experience is the best way Piedmont Henry can serve its community. PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL RECOGNIZED FOR ITS MISSION FOR HEALTH:
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t’s commonplace for individuals to be honored for their own achievements, but extraordinary when an entire medical facility receives recognition for its contributions to the community. Only months after the merging of the two hospitals in January, Piedmont Henry Hospital has been named the recipient of the 2012 Person of the Year Award. Southern Journal Magazine will present the award, which recognizes the person, place or concept that has had the most impact on the community in the past year, during a special banquet Nov. 7 at Eagles Landing Country Club. The merging of the two hospitals was a long time in coming. “I was part of the journey to bring Henry Medical Center into the Piedmont family for well over two years, so this honor is topping on the cake for me,” says Greg Hurst, president of Finance and Development for Piedmont Healthcare and chair of the Piedmont Henry Hospital Board of Directors. “We knew there were strong synergies between Piedmont Healthcare and Henry Medical Center, but we have surpassed our goals set for the first year of our coming together as Piedmont Henry Hospital. “Integration in all areas – quality, safety, service and operations – moved forward quickly, and we continue to realize good results across the board,” Greg continues. “Piedmont Henry has nearly righted itself financially, which opens up more opportunities for serving the community.” The hospital struggled financially for a while, but officials say it’s now turning the corner and recovering steadily. The facility has hundreds of employees in
various departments, all working in different capacities and staggered shifts. Managing a health care organization of this size is not an easy task, says Greg, but there is one important secret to success. “Keeping sights set on the patient experience is the best way Piedmont Henry can serve its community.” He adds, “Good patient outcomes and experiences rely on superior clinical quality, engaged physicians and healthcare personnel throughout the hospital, a focus on safety, and providing excellent service. These are things the Piedmont name stands for.” In the past few months, the hospital has remained actively involved with making a positive difference in the community through a number of campaigns and projects. • Throughout the summer, it partnered with the Henry County Fire Depart ment to help firefighters train for advanced cardiac care training exercises at the hospital. • In May, Piedmont Henry Hospital employees celebrated raising almost $2,500 for the March of Dimes. • In June, the Georgia Hospital As sociation announced that the hos pital generated $326 million for the state and local economy. • In July, Piedmont Henry Hospital launched its very first Critical Care Nurse Residency Program. • In August, the ninth annual Pace maker 5000 5K/10K was held to benefit the hospital. • In September, Piedmont Henry Hospital kicked off its Real Men Wear Pink 2012 campaign.
Danny Harris, the hospital’s new vice president and chief financial officer, is thrilled with the award. “It is a great honor. It recognizes that the affiliation with Piedmont Healthcare is a very positive development for the community, and I am excited to be a member of the Piedmont Henry team,” he says. Danny, a certified public accountant, took over as CFO in September. The road was financially rocky for awhile, but the merger puts both organizations in a stronger position. “The affiliation will benefit Piedmont Henry in many different ways, including finance, quality, patient safety, patient satisfaction and others,” Danny says. “We will be able to expand and enhance our clinical services. We will have better access to capital. The integration into Piedmont Healthcare will also provide a mechanism for hospital-physician integration, which is critical to success in an era of healthcare reform. “We expect to be able to decrease cost and increase quality,” he adds. “Growth at Piedmont Henry will add to the economic base for the community. Expansions such as the Locust Grove project will continue to benefit the communities served by Piedmont Henry.” The hospital has a history of putting into practice the phrase “actions speak louder than words,” says Charlie Scott, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “Piedmont Henry’s support for numerous community activities, particularly those that are health related, speaks volumes for our commitment to the community – to improve the health of the citizens of our community and, therefore, overall quality of life in our community,” says Charlie. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Edward Jones
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Financial Advisors, John Dorminy & Vanessa Conwell
By Shana Latimer & Diane Smith | Photo by Picture This Studio
Edward Jones, an investment firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is consistently named by Fortune magazine as one of the best companies to work for and strives to maintain a familial environment at the corporate office and in their branch offices. Edward Jones has over 10,000 offices located in communities in North America. The company believes in building long-term relationships with their nearly 7 million clients in the United States and Canada and emphasizes community involvement in its corporate purpose. This sense of responsibility to the community is evident in Edward Jones’ employees including John Dorminy, a longtime financial advisor employed by Edward Jones, in McDonough and Vanessa Conwell in the Locust Grove office. John Dorminy graduated from Duke University in 1991 with a double major in History and Political Science. After graduating from Duke, he attended Emory Law School; however, law school proved an unhappy experience. As a young boy, Dorminy was given some Southern Company Stock by his grandfather. He recalls being fascinated by the stock tables. In 1986, an Edward Jones broker knocked on his front door and a friendship was born. Dorminy interned for Edward Jones in high school and was encouraged to join the team after graduation; however, he viewed his passion for investing more as a hobby than a potential profession. He turned down the invitation to join the Edward Jones team and opted to attend Duke. It was at Duke that Dorminy met his wife, Ann, in 1990. The couple has six children ranging in age from 5 to 22. After graduating from Duke, Dorminy began law school at Emory University. Dorminy states unapologetically that he was miserable in law school. He realizes that being a lawyer would have been a very lucrative career; however, he also says that it’s important to “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” His experience
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in law school solidified his passion for investing, and after leaving law school he went to work for Edward Jones in 1993. As an employee of Edward Jones, Dorminy loves helping people. He recalls helping many older clients plan for retirement, advising parents about college funds, and helping widows and widowers transition through the financial ramifications of losing loved ones. This sense of compassion for others governs his professional and personal life. Dorminy serves on an advisory board for the local 4-H program and is involved in taking children to Rock Eagle for project assessments. He is also active with the Friends of the Henry County Libraries. This organization raises money and awareness for libraries in a variety of ways, including the annual Race to Read 5K that is held every October. Dorminy, who does not own a television, states that in these difficult economic times Americans are bombarded by media negativity. He insists that positive change is taking place in America. He likens the progress in energy independence to the revolutionary power of the Internet in the late-1990s. When talking about investing or life, Dorminy advises his fellow Americans to focus on the long-term not the short-term. Vanessa Conwell is the only woman financial advisor in the Edward Jones offices in Henry County. She views this distinction as a unique advantage rather than a challenge. As a “working mom” who is active in her community, she finds it easy to establish a rapport with local women in all walks of life. She understands their concerns about financial independence, college funds and the desire to retire comfortably. Vanessa has been with Edward Jones since 2009. She understands the importance of sitting down for one-on-one time with those seeking investment advice. Her greeting to visitors to her office is warm and confident and immediately puts them at ease. She welcomes
each one like an old friend – and they may be. A mother of an active 3-year-old, Wyatt, Vanessa may run into clients on the soccer field and in the pediatrician’s office. While her clientele is not limited to women, she does find that she can offer a unique perspective. When discussing the relationship between women and finances, Conwell states that many women find out about their finances when their husbands die. Her goal is to educate and empower women about their finances earlier in life and before tragic circumstances dictate their decisions. Vanessa has led several local seminars including “Women and Money Matters,” and “The Rules of the Road” that cover the foundational principles of investing. In addition to assisting folks with their finances and being Mom to Wyatt, Vanessa is passionate about her involvement in Kiwanis. She has been a member of the Henry County group for eight years and currently services as Vice President. Kiwanis is the driving force behind the Henry County Fair, which pours funds into local Henry County nonprofits. She also acts as a liaison between the Ferst Foundation and two local elementary schools. This foundation is responsible for sending books to at-risk children who might not have access to books until they are in school. Vanessa is a Henry County Chamber of Commerce ambassador and is active in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM - see Sept/Oct issue of Southern Journal Magazine). Additionally, this busy lady is on the Locust Grove Main Street Board which plans local events and promotes local businesses in an effort to better the community. For more information about Edward Jones, please visit www.edwardjones.com. To contact John Dorminy, please call 770.957.0250 or e-mail him at john.dorminy@edwardjones. com. Vanessa Conwell can be reached at Vanessa.Conwell@edwardjones.com or 678583-5079.
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By Denese Rodgers | Photo by Picture This Studio
Steering Commitee
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FEATURE
I would estimate that this group collectively served more than 2,000 hours for its final recommendation. STEERING TOWARD THE FUTURE
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s Henry Medical Center progressed toward their affiliation with Piedmont Healthcare, they were under the watch of a collaborative team to facilitate that transition. As it was then structured, the Medical Center was governed by three boards, each providing differing levels of oversight. These were the Hospital Authority of Henry County, the Henry Healthcare Systems Board, and the Henry Medical Center Operating Board. Wanting to position itself for long-term, future success, the Operating Board began to explore progressing from being an independent hospital toward associating with a larger healthcare system. The Operating Board felt that it was important to affiliate with a larger organization to gain access to high quality procedures and standards, and a broader range of services, and to gain the advantages of greater hospital-physician cooperation and integration. Such a relationship would also support the financial health of the hospital by realizing economies of scale. Cooperatively, the three Boards created the Affiliation Steering Committee to guide the process, with Jeff Mills serving as its Chairman. This nine member panel consisted of two members from each of the Boards. Other members included the HMC CEO, Charlie Scott, and HMC Chief of Staff, Dr. Todd Schmidt and Chief of StaffElect, Dr. Satish Cheti. The Affiliation Steering Committee’s initial task was to establish criteria by which the qualifications of potential affiliation partners were to be evaluated, with each criterion weighted for relevance and value. These 36 criteria were established and
weighted in cooperation with a 19-member Physician’s Advisory Council, organized by Dr. Schmidt. Then a criteria-based Request for Qualifications was sent to eleven prospective organizations, which included both not-forprofit and for-profit medical systems with a presence in the metropolitan area. The Committee felt that it needed to throw its net to a broad range of potential partners, as an affiliation could be accomplished in many different ways. Each respondent was required to submit their qualifications in each of the 36 weighted criteria to facilitate comparison. Seven healthcare organizations responded to the Request, and so began a period of intensive evaluation. As Jeff Mills often said, “The evaluation was both exhaustive and exhausting.” The Affiliation Steering Committee ranked each of the seven respondents in each of the 36 weighted criteria. The weighted values and the objective rankings produced an objective and fair composite ranking of the competitors. Mills noted, “There were two organizations clearly at the top of this ranking, and they were selected as finalists. These two were then asked to respond to a Request for Additional Information and Commitments. These considerations included proposed affiliation model, service lines, capital investment commitments, physician integration, consideration for local control, employee integration, and relevant county tax policies.” But that wasn’t all. The finalists were also asked to make presentations to the Affiliation Steering Committee, the Physician Advisory Committee, the Medical Staff and to HMC employees, in a format that was tailored to address issues of particular rel-
evance to each. Jeff Mills explained that the continued Committee evaluations involved several site visits, “We visited affiliated hospitals, not the main hospitals, to see for ourselves how their affiliation relationships operated.” All these factors – the responses to the original RFQ and resulting ranking, the additional commitments and information, the presentations, and the site visits – were considered as a whole by the Committee in forming its final recommendation. At the end of the day, Piedmont Healthcare emerged as the recommended affiliation partner. Chairman Mills acknowledged, “The major contributing factors in our decision were Piedmont’s core culture of focusing on operating community hospitals, just like ours, and their demonstrated track record in helping affiliated hospitals grow and thrive.” The three Henry Boards accepted the Affiliation Steering Committee’s recommendation, after which it was approved by the Federal Trade Commission and (after public hearing) by the State Attorney General’s office.” Mills expressed his deep gratitude to the Affiliation Committee, “I would estimate that this group collectively served more than 2,000 hours in arriving at its final recommendation. It was a total group effort.” On January 1, 2012, Henry Medical Center celebrated the initiation of operations as Piedmont Henry Hospital. Mills explained, “After just nine months, we are already seeing benefits in a broad range of areas, such as patient safety, physician integration and recruitment, supply chain economies, financial strength, and information technology support, to name a few.” But, looking to the future, he went on to say, “I truly believe that the best is yet to come.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
NOVEMBER 3RD, 5:00 P.M.
NOVEMBER 22ND, 8:00 A.M.
Undead Dash Zombie Fun Run @Camp Fortson Undead Bash and Zombieland Viewing Afterwards
The Turkey Day 5K @Academy Sports Benefitting Prevent Child Abuse, Caring for a Cause
NOVEMBER 10TH
DECEMBER 1ST, 3:15 P.M.
Hooters Tailgating Party Hooters @ Jonesboro Road
NOVEMBER 11TH, 2:00 P.M.
The Veteran's Day 5K @ Heritage Park Benefitting Veteran's War Museum & Henry County ROTC
Jingle Jog @Shiloh Baptist Church Benefitting Rotary Club of Henry County
DECEMBER 15TH, 3:00 P.M.
The Silly Santa 5K Location TBD Benefitting The Food Pantry
JANUARY 1ST, 1:00 P.M.
Resolution Run 5K/10K @ Community Bank at Eagle's Landing
REGISTER AT getsetgrow.com
GEORGIAPOLITICS
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by Louie Hunter | photo by Picture This Studio
Southern Journal Magazine: Piedmont Henry Hospital has come in and re-established the local community hospital feel in Henry County. Back in our time (I was born in a small community hospital in Marion, N.C.) each area had its own community hospital. We’ve gotten away from that, but tell us what you think community hospitals used to mean - and what the hospitals mean to Georgia now in growth since Obamacare, Medicaid and Medicare, are increasingly taking so much of the budget.
at 7:00 o’clock, and we are going to have a get-together with you prior to the banquet. The community is feeling the buzz from it. This will be the second time you have been to Henry County in less than a year, and that means a lot. Moving on to the legislative session coming in January. Share some of your goals with us and your agenda for moving forward this year.
Governor Deal: Having a good community hospital is a part of what makes a community a viable place. You’re correct - we had many community hospitals in the past; and as the cost of healthcare has continued to rise, the pressure on those hospitals continued to grow. Many of them have had to close their doors. Yet having a quality hospital in your immediate area is a valuable asset for recruiting business, for making your community a place where people feel comfortable living. We all have great expectations of healthcare being provided to us when we need it, and we want it to be of top quality. Certainly the Piedmont chain has become recognized as one of the quality healthcare providers in our state. Henry County is indeed fortunate that they are under the banner of Piedmont Hospital. I think truly to recognize the importance of an organization such as this in a local area is a good thing to do.
Governor Deal: We have had a very aggressive agenda the first two years I’ve been in office - everything from reform of the HOPE Scholarship program to keep it viable, to a major reform of our criminal justice system, and major tax reduction this past session. Those are big undertakings, and some are still in the process of being worked-out, especially the Criminal Justice Reform Package. There will probably be some tweaks going forward in the criminal justice area dealing with some issues that weren’t covered in the original package. We’re not sure what the economy will be in this upcoming fiscal year, therefore we’re being very conservative in our budgeting approach. We have asked our agencies to reduce their budgets by an additional three percent. I hope the national elections in November will remove some of that uncertainty, and I am hopeful that we will see a rebound of the economy, but we can’t count on that yet.
Louie Hunter: We’re excited about recognizing Piedmont Henry Hospital as Southern Journal’s first Person of the Year. The award banquet is November 7th
There are a number of things that will depend on our projections for revenue for next year. We’re going to be very cautious about where we ask for additional spending. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of
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HAVING A GOOD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IS A PART OF WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY A VIABLE PLACE. Governor Deal
the Pre-K Program in Georgia. Pre-K is one of those components of our HOPE Program that’s funded by our lottery proceeds. As part of the reform a couple of years ago we had to reduce the Pre-K days in school by twenty days. Last year we restored ten of those days in our budget cycle. Our preliminary indications are that my budget will probably include a recommendation that we restore the other ten days to our program this year. We will be dealing with those issues where our budget can justify us spending money, but we are being very cautious as we try to make our budget appropriate to the needs of our state. Southern Journal Magazine Do you anticipate a budget shortfall? How do we look this year? Governor Deal: We have generally been fortunate in the state. We have had 28 months that have had month over month growth, year over year. It has not been a dramatic increase, but it has been steady growth and we hope that will continue. But we also have expanded needs. As we see our schools have increases in certain areas of our state, obviously we try to accommodate those expanded enrollments by virtue of the state’s contribution to education. We see greater demands in our Board of Regents in terms of colleges and universities; and, of course, those under the greatest pressure are our technical colleges. Our goal is to maintain those educational opportunities for the young people in our state.
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Southern Journal Magazine: Do you feel like Georgia has found a bottom at this point economically? Governor Deal: Well we hope so! When I’m out trying to recruit businesses to come to Georgia to provide jobs for our citizens, I try to tell them all the good things we have going for us. Mostly, we as citizens of the state of Georgia are number fifty in terms of the tax burden placed by the state on our citizens. That’s where you want to be! You don’t want to be number one, and we are the lowest per capita tax burden of any state on its citizens. We in fact cut that again this legislative session. For example, we increased the marriage tax exemption and exclusion by another $2,000.00 so it’s up to $7.400.00. That was a campaign promise that I made to eliminate the marriage tax penalty on our citizens. We feel like we’ve done that. We’ve also made business judgments about what it takes to attract business to our state. I think the elimination of the sales tax used in manufacturing will be one of those great inducements used for manufacturers to expand in our state and for new ones to come in. So whether we’ve reached the bottom or not I don’t know, but what I want us to do is to have the kind of infrastructure in place that when the recovery comes - and we hope it will come fast and strong - Georgia will be in the place to rebound first!
Southern Journal Magazine: In Henry County we had a change at the top in our leadership. What advice would you give to new leaders coming in at the county level to be prepared for the economy to take hold and come back?
assure you that manufacturers are going to look to see which county has taken the same position that the state has about removing that sales tax. Those that don’t, will be at a disadvantage in terms of recruiting new industry to come to their county.
Governor Deal: (Laughing) Well I don’t want to give anybody at the local level that is elected advice as to what they need to do in their county. They obviously have a pretty good feel for that. However, I think that there are some things that we can say in general terms, and that is what I talked about at the state level. Be prepared if you want growth, if you want jobs; if you want better jobs you have to lay a foundation for what a company is going to look for in order to have those jobs come your way. If you don’t have that foundation, they’ll find somewhere that does. It may be in another part of our state, or somewhere else in the United States. We’ve been fortunate that we have been able to attract some very significant companies to the state of Georgia. A lot of that has to do with local communities being prepared and being willing to do their part to make that company feel that this is the place to be.
Southern Journal Magazine: Henry County is doing some essential things to attract business. We have a great hospital - Piedmont Henry Hospital - our schools are more than adequate. We are close to the airport; we’re in route to the coast where the ports are growing daily – but it seems that the mystery jam at Hudson Bridge is what people always talk about along with the heavy traffic on I-75. Tell us your vision going forward and what you have in mind from a transportation standpoint in and around Atlanta - because as Atlanta goes, Henry County will coat tail right along with them.
One thing I would like to point out is the tax reduction package that we passed last session. We are phasing out the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing over a four year period. But there is a component of sales tax that is not the states sales tax. It’s local sales tax. And counties are given the option as to whether or not they too will roll back their sales tax on energy that is used for manufacturing. If you want manufacturing in your county, I can
Governor Deal: For your local purposes one of the major projects that we will have is on I-75 south of Atlanta. The plan is to build two reversible lanes that will be a P3, or Public Private Partnership. These lanes will be toll lanes but as you know those lanes south of Atlanta on I-75 are very congested and to have two additional lanes that can be reversed going in and out I think will be a great benefit to that part of the state including Henry County. Thank you, Governor Deal, for taking the time to share your goals and visions for this great state and for our own local community.
TO STAY CONNECTED WITH GOVERNOR DEAL AND IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING OUR GREAT STATE VISIT GOV.GEORGIA.GOV
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SPIVEY HALL: Internationally renowned and beautiful 400-seat performing arts venue. Approximately 160,000 vehicles pass the Morrow Exit (233) on I-75 daily
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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OURSTORIES
THESE TREES SYMBOLIZE THIS NEW BIRTH AND NEW LIFE THAT IS SPROUTING.
OF TIMBERRIDGE By Denese Rodgers
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13). July 2012 was when “the great oak” of Timberridge Presbyterian took a tumble. The mighty oak had stood stalwartly at the front of the Church for over a century. Long time member, Bobby Russell, recalled, “That tree was probably older than the church. It was way over a hundred years old.” And just as the Church was welcoming a new era, and a new minister – time and weather took its toll; the mighty oak succumbed to a late July thunderstorm. The Church folk pulled together. Teams, families and long-time friends pulled together to quickly remove debris and clean up the grounds – saws
humming, friends and families working alongside each other as always. Doug and Susan Crumbley were among them. Susan remembers, “To be there that day with my husband and the people we’ve known and loved - it felt wonderful. And then the next Sunday, sitting in Church with our friends, we knew that it was way more than just cleaning up a fallen tree.” Executive Presbyter, Reverend Penny Hill was visiting that next Sunday. She thought to herself about the symbolism – the passing of time and history, and the door to the opportunities of the future. Her thoughts led to the idea
of planting three trees to replace the mighty oak. Timberridge Pastor, Reverend Richard Hill, seized on the idea, “These trees symbolize this new birth and new life that is sprouting.” On October 7, known as World Communion Sunday, the congregation of Timberridge Presbyterian Church came together at the site of the Old Oak and planted three seedlings. The Holy Trinity is an integral part of the Presbyterian Faith, and now as they move into their next century this close-knit group will have a living reminder of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
CHAMBER
CONNECTION WE THE PEOPLE By Kay Pippin, President: Henry County Chamber of Commerce Photo by Picture This Studio
T
he developer of South Point mall, Jim Baker, recently gave our Chamber’s Board of Directors an update on the history of South Point; current and expected stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. Mr. Baker threw in a lesson on how development works and showed, as an example, slides of the original footprints of Lenox Square and Stewart- Lakewood malls. Lenox Square was built in 1959 and StewartLakewood in 1962, both by the same developer and both had the same original footprint. Today Lenox Square is a thriving center of commerce while Stewart-Lakewood looks like a ghost town. What happened? Mr. Baker makes the point that with any development, the key is keeping pace with the times. The original footprint of StewartLakewood was never updated, while Lenox Square has undergone four complete makeovers and is currently getting a new facelift. I recently attended a conference where several economic forecasters and land planners discussed what will constitute the prosperous communities of the future. They all agreed that communities aspiring for longevity as thriving and prosperous places to live, work and play must concentrate on three things: education, infrastructure and quality of life….and in that order! I also heard a leader from Dublin/Laurens County, Georgia, describe why that community has had so much success in recent years attracting new businesses and jobs, not the least of which are three new German manufacturing companies. A major reason is because of the investment that community has made in building a state-of-the-art Fiber-Optic/Broadband around the city of Dublin. These anecdotes provide great lessons for Henry 37
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County; and while neither involves rocket science, all require strong leadership to achieve. The key ingredient to every community’s success has always been, and will always be leadership. EDUCATION Henry County is well positioned to become the education hub of Atlanta’s southern crescent. We have a good public school system well on its way to becoming a great school system. We have a wide range of excellent private schools. Our county is home to higher education opportunities provided by fine universities/colleges like Mercer, Georgia State, Clayton State and Southern Crescent Technical. The first of what will be 8 buildings on the new Southern Crescent Technical College/Henry County Campus will soon be built. Our high schools and colleges are collaborating on curriculums to provide students with the skills needed for the jobs of the future. We the people must never let up on insisting on top flight educational opportunities for all students. INFRASTRUCTURE Unfortunately you can ask most anyone familiar with our state “Where is Henry County?” and the reply will be, “Where the traffic stops on the Southside of Atlanta,” and ask any resident what is our county’s number one challenge and the likely response will be “traffic congestion.” Henry County voters, like a majority of others throughout the region, rejected the one penny of sales tax to address traffic congestion. The people chose, but we still face transportation woes that must be addressed. Governor Deal has announced that he’ll marshal some of GDOT’s limited funding to work on some of the worst mobility blockades around the state. That’s notable, but not nearly enough to start gaining on the backlog of critically needed work. We the people must demand better.
Thanks to the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority, and the taxpayers, Henry County has an abundant supply of quality water. Forward thinking leadership assured this part of our infrastructure is well under control. Thank you HCWSA! Water and transportation are two obvious parts of our infrastructure network, but there is another network vital to our economic prosperity…Broadband! We cannot attract higher paying jobs without it. We have already lost good jobs to other metro counties with multiple providers of Fiber-Optic infrastructure. Business cannot operate and stay competitive without access to roads, water, electricity or the Internet. Another reason we need it is education. Learning habits have changed and nearly every student carries an Internet capable device whether it is a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Our school system has over 40,000 students. When all these devices are concurrently using a network, the need for more Broadband is apparent. We the people must insist on a plan that includes incentives for public/private partnerships to build a Broadband system in Henry County. QUALITY OF LIFE Wouldn’t it be great if we had a visionary plan that assured by the year 2040 (projected date of the doubling of Henry County’s population) our quality of life had become a major attraction for talented young people? From arts and recreation to local history and institutions, we the people must demand a high quality of life for our families and those we wish to attract to our community. These are broad aspirations. But with strong leadership and the collective support of “we, the people,” it’s all doable. Remember, what unites us is far greater than what divides us!
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FEATURE
TAKING HOPE toHAITI By DIane Smith
How do a church and a medical practice begin to make a difference in the poverty and despair in Haiti? How do you touch the lives of those who live in more abject poverty than most of us can even imagine? The answer is…one person at a time.
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Allan Imes, physician assistant at Family Medical Clinic, is obviously torn as he talks about a recent medical mission trip to Haiti. “We did some good things,” he reflects. “But the need was overwhelming.” He pauses. “But I know for a fact that we saved some lives there.” How did the trip originate? Allan went to church at Momentum in McDonough one Sunday. His heart was struck by a message given by Seth Hoover – don’t turn your back on what God calls you to do. “After the service, Bart – the pastor – came up and asked me what I thought about a Haiti mission trip.” He asked if Allan had ever been on a medical mission trip. Then Allan knew, “God told me to go. I felt Him tell me to do it.” Then the preparation began. Momentum and Family Medical would work with Haitian Christian Ministries – one of the largest and most respected ministries in Haiti. Their focus would be with a clinic run by RN Jodi Castello. “Jodi is a tough lady,” Allan shares. “But she cares.” The team began to pull together needed medical supplies. “Every person in our clinic played some part in this trip,” Allan says with pride. Even patients got involved. “At one point I realized that we had spent all the money we could and still needed an oxygen generator.” He jokingly suggested one day in an exam room to Ned Coleman that Ned should buy it. “He wrote a check and we bought the oxygen generator,” Allan says, still sounding amazed. By the time the team was ready to leave for Haiti, “We had over $50,000 in medical equipment and supplies to take with us.” The
bounty included everything from stethoscopes and otoscopes to the oxygen generator, EKG machine, cholesterol checking machine, HIV test equipment, nebulizer, hemoglobin/hemostat machine, and urinalysis equipment. These items and materials that are taken for granted in most clinics in America made a real impact on Nurse Jodi’s clinic in Haiti. “The things that we were able to collect and take will make it possible for that clinic to treat adults and children in the area three days a week – for a year.” The work during the eight day mission trip was grueling and rewarding. “God was there – He was there in the 16 people who took this trip,” Allan declares. “The Momentum folks were amazing. They would hold the flashlight while we did procedures. If there was blood, someone might need to leave for a moment and throw up…or pass out. Five minutes later, they were back, doing what had to be done. And the whole time they were sharing God with the Haitian people. They shared His word and they shared Him through song and music.” He continued, “We worked as many hours each day as we could. We kept going when we thought we couldn’t. Our nurse, Brandy, would literally nod off to sleep while handing me instruments.” As Allan tells the story, his emotions are mixed. The poverty and some of the practices of the Haitian people – such as voodoo – are haunting. But he breaks into a grin when he recounts, “The biggest hit of the trip was a gift made by patient Aletha Walthers…107
pillowcase dresses.” Did the Momentum/Family Medical team touch lives in Haiti? Absolutely. Is the need there still tremendous and overwhelming? Indeed. But as long as there are those who will heed to the call to “Go,” more lives will be impacted. It may be one at a time, but hope almost always starts small before it grows into visible change.
The Momentum/Family Medical Mission Team:
Kim Groves Gabby Groves Danny Groves Allyson Hamilton Scott Hamilton Jill Pate Lauren Lewis Peyton Seybolt Sergio Garcia Nick Beutner Jen Beutner Allan Imes Brandy Batchelor Andrew Payne Michael Burton Rob Sykes
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FEATURE
MAKING STUDENTS OUR FIRST PRIORITY By Dee Dee McIntyre (with Beverly Van Gorder) | Photo by Picture This Studio
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dee Dee Peppers McIntyre. I am a wife to Shane, a mother to Cory, Conner, Lindsey and Austin, a sister to Darin, and a daughter to Gene and Carolyn Peppers. More importantly, I am a child of God. I am also a sinner, and I fail often. As a teen in the 1980’s at a summer church camp, I realized sin is what separates me from God. The penalty: death. The bridge: Jesus Christ. I made a decision that summer to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I am thankful to have been raised by a father who faithfully took our family to church and a mother who prayed for my salvation and thereafter encouraged my walk with Christ. My parents continue to greatly influence my life, especially now as I raise my own children---members of our next generation.
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So what of this next generation? I have heard them called the fatherless generation, the unchurched generation and the hopeless generation. Have you ever wondered how many of our youth know Jesus Christ? How many attend a local church? According to statistics from The Barna Group, only 4% of teenagers believe that Jesus is the Son of God and only 12% attend church. This generation is not rejecting Jesus Christ, they have not heard of Him! Whether we represent Baptist, Methodist, Church of God, Assembly of God, Catholic, Presbyterian, or any other Bible-believing church denomination, we can all agree the most important decision in life is choosing to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! What if the churches of Henry County united on the twenty
campuses of our Middle and High Schools for the purpose of sharing the Gospel with every student? What if all believing students, parents, teachers, and business leaders in our communities embraced these campuses as the greatest Mission Field in America for reaching un-churched teens? I know without doubt God would start a movement in Henry County unlike anything we have ever seen! “First Priority” is a campus ministry with the vision of “The Hope of Christ in Every Student!” It is a student-led, Christ-centered, and kingdom-focused program intentional about spreading the Gospel. Its simple strategy provides a platform which equips, empowers, and enables Christian teens to share the Good News with their peers using a model called FISH.
Week One: Focus. Week Two: Inspire. Week Three: Share. Week Four: Hook. Honestly---who is most influential to a teenager today? Another teenager! Once a student makes a decision for Christ on campus, the local church network follows up and gets them plugged into a Biblebelieving church of their choice. “First Priority” is a community initiative played like a football game. Envision a stadium where students are the players, teachers are the referees, church leaders are the coaches, parents are the fans, and businesses are the owners. Each, its own network, serves an important role. We’ve heard it said, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Let’s unite our community to transform a generation by taking the Gospel to them.
Upcoming events: Initiator’s Lunch and Learn – November 29, 2012; 1st Annual Corporate Challenge Bowl-A-Thon benefitting First Priority of Metro Atlanta – January 24, 2013. For more information on these events: e-mail DeeDee McIntyre---deedee.mcintyre@lionbank.com. For information on First Priority of Metro Atlanta: email Darin Peppers---darin@firstpriority.org and visit www.fpmetroatlanta.org. Last of all, hear it from a teen: “Be Honest - In Reverse,” a First Priority student video on You Tube---this will simply blow your mind! Let’s hear it for a new generation---and make it our first priority!!
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BUSINESS PROFILE
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR MEET STATE FARM AGENT LUKE HEARN There’s something about your hometown, the place where you grew up. For plenty of folks, they never have to leave to appreciate what’s so special about Henry County. For others, they have to step away for a bit to realize that even simple things – like a fountain drink and sandwich – are just better when enjoyed among friends and family.
uch is the case for Luke Hearn. The Locust Grove native left home for college roughly a decade ago. And though he had a successful career in sales in North Carolina and Virginia, he always felt drawn to his roots. “When I came back to Henry County for holidays, it was harder and harder to go back,” Luke said. “There’s just something about the place where you grew up. Eventually I gave in and started to plan my return home.” In October, Luke Hearn State Farm opened on Jonesboro Road in Hampton, just past the Target shopping center. The office is Hearn’s first foray into entrepreneurship, and that’s obviously a source of pride for the 28-year-old. But the State Farm office, he says, is more about giving back to a community that had a large impact on his life. “I knew that if I came home, I wanted to do something meaningful,” reflected Luke, who had a successful career in corporate sales before returning home. “But I didn’t want to just sell something, so in the beginning I didn’t know what my role would be if I came back to Henry County.” Through tragic events, however, the young agent saw how all his experience and love for home could combine in a meaningful way. Like the rest of the nation, in Spring 2011, he
watched from home as tornadoes carved a path from Alabama to northeast Georgia. “I felt powerless,” Luke explained. “All those people, even some close to where I grew up, didn’t know how they would start over. I got choked up seeing how neighbors helped each other, how communities came together for their friends.” Luke had always been active in the community. As a teenager he sat in Locust Grove City Council meetings to learn more about how the town operated. He was an active member of the Optimist Club, even serving on the international level. “Seeing all the destruction, I realized that my professional background and my love for this community were a perfect fit for what State Farm is doing all across the country,” Luke decided. The timing was perfect. State Farm was looking to expand in Henry County. “I had to convince my fiancée to leave Virginia,” Luke shared. “But when she visited, she fell in love, too.” But the new business isn’t just about selling insurance. State Farm has a portfolio of products that help folks chart their financial future. “In this economy, and with all the uncertainty ahead, I’m excited to be able to
help with more than just auto, home and life insurance. Mortgages, banking and estate planning are all part of what we do.” And he’s assembled a quality team of local professionals to help. He starts out with a staff of four full-time employees, including himself, and he hopes to add more. “Coming back and immediately being able to provide jobs and invest here is huge,” Luke stated. “It would be rewarding in any town, but in the place where you grew up, it’s really meaningful to me.” In the six months he has been back, Luke is reuniting with friends and helping his wife plant roots in the community. Every corner has a memory for him. “You learn state and U.S. history from schoolbooks, but you learn local history in the passenger seat of granddad’s pick-up,” he said. “So I’ve been sharing all those stories with Teresa. She’s probably sick of hearing it now.” Luke and Teresa Hearn were married this summer in Griffin, surrounded by friends and family. “The decision to come home always felt good, but when both our families were there, standing under those big oak trees, that’s when we knew this was right,” Luke shared.
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FEATURE
By Brian J. Williams | Photo by Picture This Studio
Dr. Humberto Fallas’ clients are used to their optometrist greeting them warmly at his thriving practice in McDonough, Georgia. However, they probably don’t know that Peto, as he is called, can be seen traveling throughout the community after work in cycling gear on his high performance bike. In fact, many of Peto’s clients probably drive past their 39 year-old doctor while he bikes on the back roads of Henry County.
pictured left-right/back-front Isabel Guiterrez, Carlos Talbott, Kevi Schram, David Mills, Tarmac the Dog, Peto Fallas, Joel Simmons, Neil Farmer THANK YOU TO EPIC BIKE FOR PHOTO LOCATION
“Cycling is more than a sport, it’s a culture….a lifestyle,” says Dr. Fallas. “Some of our best memories as a child are when we got our first bike because it is a precious invention that we must enjoy for as long as we can,” he adds. Dr. Fallas definitely enjoys his bike. Last year, he joined Southern Crescent Cycling (www.bikescc.org) in McDonough, which boasts over a hundred active members. Afterwards, his practice, Fallas Family Vision, also became a sponsor of the organization. Since joining the club, Dr. Fallas now averages over 120 miles
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per week on his bike. By the end of this year, he will have cycled over 6,000 miles, both locally and participated in rides in New York, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. “Cycling is a low impact cardio exercise,” Dr. Fallas says. “In my opinion, there is no better low impact sport...well...swimming. But when you swim, you can’t talk to your friends, and you can’t appreciate that early morning breeze as you ride through some beautiful countryside. Cycling makes the heart stronger.” Dr. Fallas has always been athletic. Growing up in a small suburb outside of
the national capital of San Jose, Costa Rica, Dr. Fallas used to ride his bike along his hometown’s lush mountainous roads. In 1996, he even won first place in the Greek God Body Building Competition in South Dakota before relocating to Florida to begin studying for a Doctorate in Optometry. Nonetheless, it was a personal health scare that helped to motivate this busy physician, husband, and father of three to join Southern Crescent Cycling, and start riding his bike an average of four times per week. “By genetics, I have a liver that is not one hundred percent,” he says. First, his
physician found that he had a benign tumor in his liver. Shortly afterwards, his doctors discovered a cyst, and eventually he was diagnosed as having Fatty Liver Disease. According to WebMD, some fat in the liver is normal; however, if fat makes up more than five to ten percent of the weight of the liver, then a person may have fatty liver disease, which may lead to severe complications if changes in lifestyle are not made. With this diagnosis, the doctor had suddenly become the patient. Peto’s physicians told him that he needed to change his lifestyle from just watching his
diet to becoming more active in sports and physical fitness. Therefore, he chose to go back to one of his favorite childhood sports. Once he started cycling, his weight dropped from 201 pounds to a lean 162. He also says that his liver enzymes have come down significantly, which is an indication of how the liver is doing. “I plan to keep on eating healthy and exercising,” he says. “I got rid of my scale because weight is deceiving.....muscle weighs more than fat.” Not only does Dr. Fallas enjoy riding with his fellow cyclists, but also enjoys biking
with his family too. He and his wife Elizabeth have three sons who are 7, 5 and 2 years old. They limit their cycling to the friendly streets of their subdivision. “My sons have asked me about cycling and I tell them everything at its appropriate time,” he says. “For now, they get to go with dad at a slow pace and safe routes without cars.”
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FEATURE
home sweet
E M O H s y a d i l o for the h ck
By Ginny McCorma
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W
elcome to the delights of the holiday season! If ever a time of year were more suited for showcasing all manner of sweet treats and delectable goodies, it is the months of November and December. This is the time of year when we embark on a traditional culinary pilgrimage that begins with Thanksgiving and rolls right through New Year’s. What is it about the holidays that draw us into our kitchens? The season seems to bring us a certain creative excitement - a new-found energy - to cook, bake and create deliciously sweet desserts to delight our family and friends. Those time-honored recipes, lovingly handwritten and preserved on tattered index cards, emerge from their box and become the focal points of our family’s holiday dinners. Fortunately, with six weeks of celebratory opportunities, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your old favorite recipes - and discover some new ones. So, if visions of sugar plums have been dancing in your head as they have in mine, it may be time to roll up your sleeves, put on your apron, and fill your home with the sights, sounds and aromas of the holidays!
Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Hot Buttered Rum Sauce
2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups quick oats 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar, divided 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 (16 oz.) can whole cranberry sauce 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 (1 lb.) loaf challah bread, cut into cubes 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups milk 5 eggs 1 ½ cups sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 (15 oz.) can packed pumpkin ¾ cup pecans, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x11inch baking pan. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake 15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and gradually add the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Stir in the lemon juice. Spread over the baked crust. In a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, cornstarch and 1 Tbsp. brown sugar. Spoon mixture over the cream cheese layer and sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Bake 45-50 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars. Makes 24 servings.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together cream, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin. Add the bread cubes and toss gently to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes. Lightly coat a 10-x14-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Pour bread mixture evenly into pan and top with the pecans. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve with the rum sauce. Hot Buttered Rum Sauce Combine in a small saucepan over medium heat until smooth and hot: 1 cup sugar ½ cup (1 stick) butter ½ cup half-n-half or light cream 1 tsp. rum extract
Holiday Chocolate Chess Pie 1 ½ cups sugar 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 2 eggs 1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1 9-inch unbaked pie crust Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sugar and cocoa powder. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs then add to the cocoa mixture. Whisk in the milk, butter and vanilla until smooth. Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake for 45 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing. Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream, if desired.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
THERE’S NO PLACE
like By Diane Smith
If you’ve lived in Henry County any time at all, you are familiar with the iconic original Shane’s Rib Shack on the corner of East Lake Road & Hwy 155 in McDonough. And you’ve seen additional Shacks popping up around the community. What you may not know is that the corporate office has been located in Atlanta since 2004, when Shane began selling franchises. Now, Shane’s is coming home! The new corporate office will be in Henry County. “Shane and Stacey Thompson started Shane’s Rib Shack right here in our community. We have always wanted the Corporate office here in Henry County. It’s our home – it’s where our family is; it’s the community that first embraced Shane’s,” explains Rachel Turk-Settle, Sr. Field Marketing Consultant for Shane’s. If you are NOT from Henry County and have been living in a “no news zone,” you may not be familiar with Shane’s “It’s gonna get messy” barbeque goodness. Let us enlighten you with a snippet from the Shane’s website (www.shanesribshack. com): Shane’s Rib Shack is a true American Rib Shack, known for its slow-cooked Ribs, handchopped Chicken and Pork BBQ, and many southern sides to compliment each plate. The original shack was founded in 2002, in rural McDonough, Ga. by Shane Thompson, who started the restaurant with his grandfather’s secret BBQ sauce. Since becoming a
franchised restaurant in 2004, Shane’s Rib Shack has grown to become the country’s fastest growing fastcasual barbecue concept. Each Shane’s Rib Shack is dedicated to providing great food and excellent customer service at a family-friendly price. In addition, Shane’s is focusing on sharing the American dream of owning a small business by offering franchises - especially in the southeastern region of the United States. According to Shane, both individual and multi-unit opportunities are available. The website offers a 10 step owner evaluation for those considering becoming part of the Shane’s Rib Shack family of eateries. As this magazine reported earlier, Shane’s Rib Shack celebrated its 10th anniversary in March of this year. During this decade of service, the Shack which started with such a humble beginning has grown to include a family of 70 locations across 12 states and we are still growing. Recently opened franchises include those in Indian Land, South Carolina; Jefferson, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Douglasville, Georgia; and Bethlehem, Georgia. Five more openings will take place in coming months, including one in the Atrium at the Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Imagine coming home from a long, exhausting flight…and being greeted with the aroma
of home wafting through the airport – the smell of Shane’s barbeque. Now THAT will be a real Welcome Home. Throughout the decade of successful growth, Shane Thompson has never “sold out.” He IS still the “Shane” in Shane’s Rib Shack. He had to go through a series of events, like many business owners do, and now he runs the company full time - another reason the move home has been able to happen. “We are pleased to be bringing the corporate office back home. Many of our corporate team members are Henry natives, so the move made sense in that aspect as well,” Shane shared. “Let me just take a moment to recognize them,” he continued. “Of course, there is Stacey & myself – I’ve lived here 23 years and consider myself a ‘native.’ In addition we have Cory Prator, Field Compliance Auditor; Rachel Turk-Settle, Sr. Field Marketing Consultant; Justin Pair, Business Consultant & Training Director; and Judy Dempsey, Director of Finance. And, of course, Beau Kelley manages our Facebook page.” For more information about Henry County’s original BBQ Shack, visit: www.shanesribshack.com. For franchising information and franchisee testimonials from the current franchisees, visit our website www.shanesribshack.com/franchise or call Franchise Sales at 1-866-963-0345. Welcome Home, Shane’s Rib Shack!
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FEATURE
creative outlets By Jessica Dauler | Photo by Picture This Studio
I
t’s no secret that I love the thrill of discovering a great deal at a hidden boutique, but this holiday season my focus will be on outlet shopping. Outlets are not only great for gift giving but also a great resource to update your look for less. While these larger, suburban malls are known to be big on discounts, they can also be overwhelming if you’re not prepared, leaving you spinning with options and forgetting where you parked your car. I always say, “never pay retail” and outlet shopping is the perfect place to adhere to this motto. Manufacturers sell excess goods directly to you, eliminating the middle man, therefore you paying less for what is sold for more in a typical retail storefront. Depending on where you live, the drive may be a little far and the hunt a bit more involved, but if this means walking away with a Coach hobo for 50 percent off that you’ll treasure for multiple seasons, the overall value is worth more than the money you save. Coach is just one of the many brand names and designers that make outlet shopping so exciting. Ann Taylor, DKNY, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Nine West, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, Carter’s and Lane Bryant are just a few of the brands that can be found at the outlets in Georgia. A few of my favorite outlets include North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville, Ga., and Tanger Outlets, located in both Locust Grove and Commerce, Ga.
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If you are trying to update your look and dress celebrity chic from head-to-toe, you can make it happen with just a few observations and innovative outlet shopping. I recreated several starlet looks from the BCBGMAXAZRIA Factory Store at North Georgia Premium Outlets that leave an impression… and money in the bank. Anne Hathaway has been sporting ankle boots left and right (literally) and I found a similar tall ankle boot for just $163 (retail: $325). Kate Beckinsale likes to add a “P.O.C.” (pop of color) to her winter wardrobe with jewel-tone sweaters, so I found a light pink option for $97 (retail: $138). Faux fur is still all the rage and as an animal advocate, it’s a trend I’m behind all the way. Nothing beats their faux fur vest at just $202 (retail $288). Also, save an extra 10 percent on anything that is $100 before tax with the North Georgia Premium Outlets coupon book if you join the VIP Shopper Club. An extra 10 percent goes a long way when you’re talking high-priced designer discounts. Burberry also has some high-class, winter-weather essentials for lower prices like the Snood/House check scarf ($259 sale, retail $350) and the Black Riding rain boot ($319 sale, retail $495). For holiday shopping, the outlets make it so easy to give more when it comes to gift giving. Tanger Outlets feature designer stores, but also many of the trusted name brands you count on from year to year for the best gifts and biggest savings onv stocking stuffers to comfy basics and more. Stores
such as Gap to Banana Republic outlets carry many of the same items you see in retail locations, but exclusive outlet pricing is usually about 20 percent less. For even more savings, be sure to check the website coupon section before you pay too much for an item that may secretly be on sale. For example, I just found a 40 percent storewide coupon from OldNavy.com, but it’s only good for four days so be sure to check before you shop as deals change frequently.
About Jessica Dauler of JessicaShops.com Widely known among shoppers and deal hunters for her Friday morning radio show segment on Star 94 (Atlanta, Ga.), her weekly shopping expert segment on CBS Better Mornings (Atlanta, Ga.) and her weekly Deal Spotter column in the Atlanta JournalConstitution, Jessica Dauler is every bargain shopper’s best friend when it comes to deals and trends since 2001. Her diverse, credible and unmatched shopping advice makes her the go-to destination for the daily scoop on everything from retail to dining deals, beauty buys and more. Jessica has also been featured in many national media outlets including CNN, Self Magazine, Ladies Home Journal and The Travel Channel.
Twitter.com/JessicaShops Facebook.com/JessicaShops
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CHAPLAINSCORNER
GOT SWAT? NO SWEAT
CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE TOUGH GUYS
By Beverly Van Gorder | Photo by Picture This Studio
physically and mentally. One of Maddox and Patterson’s most important tasks is the creation of an environment which is as high-stress and high-intensity as possible. “We make it a pressure cooker for the candidates because we are gut checking. We have to know these officers have heart. We don’t want to find out they are not equipped to manage the stress after they hit the streets,” says Patterson.
“W
hen the citizens need help, they call the Police; when the Police need help, they call SWAT,” says Henry County SWAT Commander, Lt. Jeff Maddox. SWAT is the acronym for Special Weapons and Tactics. Henry County Police Department’s SWAT team is slotted for 32 members and this past month Maddox and his Assistant SWAT Commander, Dean Patterson, held tryouts for four of those positions. “We are looking for the elite among officers. SWAT takes our men to the most dangerous of situations so our audition process MUST be tough,” explains Maddox. When positions become available on the team, a notice is posted and those who are qualified may apply. To qualify, the candidate must have completed the one year probation during which an officer proves to be a successful new hire. “After receiving an officer’s letter of intent to tryout, Patterson and I go to their supervisors and do background checks. We review their files for any disciplinary issues. We interview their co-workers. We need to know exactly what kind of officers the applicants are. We need to have a good idea of how well they work on the street,” Maddox elaborates. Tryouts are offered to those who pass the preliminary reviews. Made up of 12 training evolutions, these try outs are intentionally taxing---both 61
SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
Among the training evolutions are exercises concentrated on running, shooting and rappelling. A quarter-mile sprint must be accomplished in 90 seconds or less while wearing the full SWAT uniform. Several shooting evolutions are used to evaluate accuracy under stress and fatigue. Ability to nail one’s target while running, crawling, or lying is essential as is accuracy on a hostage shot. A virtual simulator is used to assess judgment calls made during a “live” situation. Afterwards an explanation of actions taken is required. And at the end of all stages, candidates are subjected to a sit-down interview. Why are you here? What do you ultimately want to do in your career? Where do you see yourself in three years?
“THE CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM
IS HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR PERSONAL LIVES SO THEY CAN BE MORE PROFICIENT IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES.” When selected, the new member is awarded a SWAT pin. It is much more than just another pin on the uniform. It is a trophy denoting the incredible accomplishment of making it through the “refiner’s fire.” The men and women who make up the team have all volunteered for the opportunity. They serve in this capacity because of personal desire; there is no extra pay to incite them. And just what does the job entail? Maddox reveals, “More than 80 percent of SWAT team deployments are for narcotic search warrants. Among the remaining issues confronted are: missing child/elderly cases; barricaded gunmen; and hostage situations. Each deployed team is made up of nine operators, a team leader, the assistant commander and the commander. B.J. Monti, a training officer and 15 year law enforcement veteran, has been with the SWAT team
for a year. His job focus is to assist with the training of new officers and to help with everything functional. Monti says, “I’m just here to serve.” Ironically this officer with such a servant’s heart has recently been the recipient of the chaplain ministry’s service. His 11-year-old son is struggling with an illness which kept him hospitalized for 29 days. During this time, Monti still needed to work. The chaplains came forward and helped get him and his wife through those long days by being present at the hospital and by praying. Brother Ralph Easterwood shares, “Regardless of how tough these guys have to be they all have a personal life. The Chaplaincy program is here to support their personal lives so they can be more proficient in their professional lives.” Others on the team include Sgt. Paul Danielson and Officer David Darnell, entry team leaders who answer to Maddox and Patterson. Danielson, having served in the Marine Corps for five years, says, “The greatest part of being on the SWAT team is the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie. When I first got out of the military, I really missed having someone to watch my back.” Darnell, a training officer, reiterates that sentiment. He adds, “My team is young, but it is the best with which I have been associated. With these guys you know you are never alone.” In addition there is a sniper team of five. Sgt. Dan Blythe is the sniper team leader. He explains that the sniper team is deployed as a pair (sniper and observer) ahead of the operators in order to set up for surveillance. “We have to become invisible and may need to remain that way for an extended period of time. I remember two specific instances when it was a real challenge. Once while lying in the brush, I watched a copperhead slither towards me. I stayed silent and motionless as it crawled across the barrel of my gun. Another time, one of the ‘bad guys’ actually stepped on my ankle as he walked around where we were hidden. Nonetheless, in almost six years as a sniper, I’ve never been seen.” He adds, “Shock and surprise is how we get the job done.” Danielson encourages the community not to feel dread when they see the SWAT van unloading guys from the back. Instead, he advises, “Take it as a sign that the county is being kept safe.” In other words, SWAT will sweat it out for us---we don’t have to!
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Remit payment to: Fidelity Bank, i/c/o Southern Journal Magazine, 1375 Highway 81 W, McDonough, Georgia 30252 For more information on the Bowl-A-Thon, contact deedee.mcintyre@lionbank.com Debit and all major credit cards accepted
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Cancer Care Close to Home …in the Southern Crescent
T
hree south side cancer centers plus three south side hospitals… the sum of which means cancer patients in the south Atlanta area do not have to travel far to receive topnotch cancer treatment. In fact, Radiation Oncology Services (ROS), a leader in radiation therapy in the metropolitan Atlanta area since 1975, provides stateof-the-art cancer care to almost 800 patients a year in one of their Southern Crescent centers. The ROS south side story dates back 30 years, with the first center opening in Riverdale in 1982. Today, the experienced ROS physician team of John H. Giesler, M.D. and Sasha H. Wahab, M.D., provides the medical leadership at ROS-Riverdale. Expanding on the vision of cancer care “close to home,” ROS saw a need to provide cancer services in Spalding County. As a result, ROS-Griffin opened in 1990 and is under the direction of long time ROS physician, Robbie Medbery, M.D. Over the years, Henry County became one of the
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fastest growing counties in Georgia, and ROS was there to respond to the needs of an expanding community. The collaboration with the recently named Piedmont Henry Hospital resulted in the opening of Henry Radiation Oncology Center in 2010. The center, conveniently located on the hospital campus, is under the leadership of ROS physician, Kim N. Vu, M.D. The treatment of cancer is complex. The careful integration of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is essential to successful cancer therapy. The Southern Crescent physicians have long supported this multi-modality model of cancer care. In fact, each hospital affiliated with ROS centers - Southern Regional Medical Center, Spalding Regional Medical Center, and Piedmont Henry Hospital - are approved by the American College of Surgeons, which establishes quality standards that ensure a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to the treatment of malignant diseases. The radiation oncologists of ROS are experts in coordinating care with area doctors to
determine an exact course of action for each individual cancer patient. The plan is then discussed at ROS’ weekly Evidence Based Peer Review conference. The conference is a format for ROS’ 13 board-certified radiation oncologists to give their experienced opinions on how to best treat each patient. Patients and their families can take comfort that the south side ROS physicians - Drs. Giesler, Wahab, Medbery and Vu - have the full support of ROS in the well-coordinated delivery of the patient’s unique treatment plan. Under ROS physician leadership, the staff at all ROS centers is committed to the well being of its cancer patients. The warm, friendly environment of the centers provides the backdrop to help meet the needs of patients and their families.
For more information about ROS, their locations, staff or services, please visit: www.radonc.com or call 770-994-1650.
JOHN H. GIESLER, M.D.
ROBBIE MEDBERY, M.D.
SASHA H. WAHAB, M.D.
KIM N. VU, M.D. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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FEATURE
Between Now Forever By Valerie Baldowski | Photo by Picture This Studios
The dictionary definition of “sacred” mentions a devotion to a higher power, or an association with a divine presence. Walking the quiet halls of Sacred Journey Hospice in McDonough powerfully reinforces the feeling that spirituality, life and eternity are closely linked. “I try to tell people that hospice is about life, not about death. It’s just a different stage of the journey,” says Annette Rogers, volunteer coordinator and hospice liaison for the facility. Located at 138 Peach Drive, Sacred Journey is a 12-bed facility built in 2002 to serve the needs of patients, their families and their caregivers living with advanced illness. The nurses, chaplains, social workers, staff and volunteers at the facility are there to provide medical care for the patients, and emotional support and guidance for their loved ones, at a critical time. When the end of life is reached, Sacred Journey gives families the support they need to make emotional decisions. “We take care of the family as much as we do the patient,” Annette says. “We provide spiritual help, we provide psycho-social assistance, we help them with all of their end-of-life plans, put in place what they want, and make sure that’s all documented for them.” If the family desires placement for their loved one, Sacred Journey helps families place their loved ones in assisted living facilities or nursing homes, and provides Certified Nursing Assistant services as often as five times per week. It sends volunteers to patients’ homes to care for them, and provides any necessary medical equipment, hospital beds, shower chairs and medication related to patients’ hospice diagnosis. Annette has coordinated the facility’s volunteers for only three years, but it has had a major impact on her life. “I didn’t choose hospice, it chose me,” says the Stockbridge resident. “It’s the greatest thing that I’ve ever done in my life. It’s wonderful. I’m thankful I did it.” A graduate of Leadership Henry, Annette initially did not plan to work in a hospice. However, she changed her mind after receiving a call from another graduate who was one of the facility’s owners, asking if she would be interested in the position. She wasn’t sure she was up to the task, but accepted the challenge anyway.
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The hardest part of the job, says Annette, is becoming emotionally attached to patients who then pass away. The most rewarding part is interacting with the people themselves. “I love making a difference in peoples’ lives,” Annette adds. “Every day we come to work, we go home knowing that we made a difference. That’s the greatest job you could have.” Sacred Journey’s owners work onsite, but it is the volunteers who are the facility’s hands, feet and heart. By spending a few hours with a dying patient, they make it possible for family members to take some much-needed time for themselves. One of those volunteers is 86-year-old Stockbridge resident Cecil Hand. Cecil began volunteering at Sacred Journey a little more than a year ago. After completing the volunteer training, he expressed a willingness to help wherever needed. “I told Annette when I came down here I can do anything. She took me at my word,” he says. That includes anything from sitting with a patient in their home for a few hours once a week, to stuffing envelopes. In addition to Henry County, Sacred Journey serves 13 other surrounding communities, including Butts, Clayton, Meriweather, DeKalb, Jasper, Spalding, South Fulton, Fayette, Lamar, Monroe, Newton, Rockdale and Walton counties. Cecil often drives considerable distances to care for sick patients, and then lends a sympathetic ear to listen to the caregiver who may have no one else to talk to. “I just sit there and listen to people,” he says. He has traveled as far as Locust Grove, Hampton, Union City, Conyers and Jackson to relieve caregivers, allowing them time to run errands, grocery shop and keep their own personal appointments. “One day I drove 90 miles in one day,” continues Cecil. The greatest joy he gets from traveling to hospice patients’ homes to relieve the caregiver is the satisfaction of helping someone else. “The good Lord blessed me with good health,” he adds.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Headaches & Chiropractic By Jennifer Sconyers | Photo by Picture This Studio
“O
h my aching head! Where is this headache coming from?” I thought to myself just this past Sunday. Statistics show that nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches, so I am not alone in my suffering. Headaches can be dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain with nausea. The next question is obvious, what can I do to make it stop? Do you push on like a trooper? Take a pill and hope for the best? Lie down and cover your eyes with a cool cloth? Perhaps, all of the above? Sometimes finding the trigger for the headache can help you avoid the pain. I know from experience that dehydration and proper nutrition can play a part. There are other causes or triggers such as the wrong foods, noise, lights, and yes, of course, STRESS! Were you hoping I wouldn’t include that? Dr. Michelle Klos understands that all of these things are an unavoidable part of our lives. “I have many patients that come in for headaches and migraines; they have tried everything and have not found any relief. They come to me as a last resort. I get very excited when they follow up with me and their headache/migraine is gone. Years of pain gone in a few visits, without medication or surgery. This is why I am a CHIROPRACTOR, to help people!” A large majority of headaches are from muscle tension in the neck. Many adults and children engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, more hours sitting in one place at the computer. Over time this can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.
What can Dr. Klos do to help? She can perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system. She will offer advice on your posture and give you exercises and relaxation techniques. Here are a few of her suggestions in how to avoid headaches. Take breaks from sitting in a fixed position, such as working on the computer, sewing machine, typing or reading, take a few minutes to stretch, move around and stretch your head and neck to regain a comfortable range of motion. Southside Spinal Center offers a better alternative to relieve the pain! They are dedicated to help you live your life to its fullest! Pain free is the way to be! Southside Spinal Center Dr. Michelle Klos D.C. Lee Ann McWaters, LMT 386 Racetrack Rd McDonough, GA 30252 Phone: 678-583-2982 Fax: 678-583-2984 Email: southsidespinalcenter@gmail.com
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Good Health Starts in Your Mouth By Angel Maynard | Photo by Picture This Studio
“No matter how young or old you are, everyone likes to eat!” The ability to chew food thoroughly is the most important way of getting your body the nutrition it needs to function most efficiently. This is one of Dr. Linda King’s philosophies when it comes to good health through dental hygiene.
“Chewing should be pleasurable and enjoyable,” says Dr. King. Proper chewing allows the body to get the vitamins and nutrients it needs to keep skin, heart and digestive system healthy. “When food is not chewed enough, the stomach has to do all the work – that’s when you start having problems.” This extraordinary dentist and her staff are sometimes the first line of defense in detecting issues that are going on in a patient’s body. They look for signs within the mouth and ask in-depth health questions that could signal other issues with a person’s health. Dr. King insists on taking her patients’ blood pressure before any treatments or services. If there is an issue, she refers them immediately to someone for treatment before she continues with a dental procedure. While a patient’s blood pressure can be elevated by simple nervousness at the dentist office, readings that are too high can be a warning of other issues in the body. “Normal blood pressure runs about 120/80; anything higher 73
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should be checked in another setting where you are not nervous – in the pharmacy, at a local fire station, even with a home blood pressure screening kit,” she recommends. “If it’s still high, seek treatment.” Dr. King’s office routinely checks each patient for periodontal disease, as well. Periodontal disease is an infection causing inflammation and bleeding of the gums. Healthy gums don’t bleed. “Eighty percent of the population may have some form of it,” she reveals. There have been links from periodontal disease to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. If the gums are still swollen after treatment for periodontal disease, it may be a sign that there is inflammation elsewhere in the body. She encourages patients to get a full physical when this occurs to make sure there isn’t another health concern that should be treated. Here’s another health surprise for many patients - according to Dr. King, wear or
erosion of teeth (loss of tooth enamel) isn’t always from lack of proper care. It can be a sign of acid reflux coming from the stomach into the mouth. Many people don’t realize that constant “heart burn” could be damaging some of the body’s most important assets, their teeth. Unchecked heartburn can also lead to other health problems, including damage to the esophagus. Dr. King’s patients are sometimes surprised when she asks, “Do you snore?” She generally gets a shocked, “How do you know?” This astute dentist and her staff recognize the signs that indicate possible sleep apnea – they may include enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which create a small airway. Another visual of this dangerous condition is eroded tooth enamel. “When a person has a smaller airway, the body works hard to bring the needed air up with each breath. This may also produce more acid coming up from the stomach, which erodes the teeth.” An interesting addition to this fact – teeth that have wear may also be a sign. When
the acid comes to the back of the throat, the body’s reaction is to wash away the acid. By chewing or grinding the teeth the body eliminates the acid by creating saliva and swallowing. “Sleep apnea is more dangerous than drinking and driving,” Dr. King cautions. “You know when you’ve been drinking and shouldn’t drive. Most people don’t realize they have sleep apnea and are therefore sleep deprived – a dangerous condition for driving.” Dr. King and her staff pride themselves on treating each patient for their individual needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach. “We ask a lot of questions and examine our patients’ overall health. Dental care is just one aspect of a healthy body, and we want all our patients to be healthy from the inside out.”
For more information about Dr. Linda King, visit www.lindakingdds.com or call 770898-8872. Why not allow your dentist to be a part of your total health team?
DENTAL CARE IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF A HEALTHY BODY, AND WE WANT ALL OUR PATIENTS TO BE HEALTHY FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @lindakingdds.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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At VITAS, the Focus is on Life If you knew someone facing a serious illness, wouldn’t you want to make life as meaningful as possible?
• VITAS is about the person, not the disease. • VITAS is about comfort, not crisis. • VITAS is about Life.
Providing the Best in Hospice Care to the Henry County Area
Referrals: 1.800.93.VITAS Serving Greater Atlanta
Information: 404.843.6500 VITAS.com
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BUSINESS PROFILE
CORRECTMED NAMED TOP PLACE TO WORK By Diane Smith
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efore an employee is hired at CorrectMed, they must sign a commitment letter. It requires a pledge to act with respect, integrity, excellence, energy and enthusiasm. And it helps to have a sense of humor (which is also on the requirement list). Those who sign this commitment letter are engulfed in a company whose mission is to treat its employees “like gold.” CorrectMed believes that when the employees are valued, it is reflected in the service those employees provide.
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This policy recently paid off when CorrectMed was ranked 16th on Atlanta’s 2012 Best Places to Work (small business category) by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Linda Faulkner, co-founder of this combined primary and urgent care facility, explains the process by which businesses are chosen as Best Place to Work. “Somebody nominated CorrectMed, and each full-time employee received an email survey from Quantum Workplace. The survey is kept completely confidential and employees are asked to
complete several categories of supporting information.” According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Quantum’s survey took place from early July through mid-August and more than 27,000 employees completed surveys. Quantum then used analytical tools to rank the businesses in large, medium and small categories. The top 60 small businesses chosen included CorrectMed, which opened in October 2010 and employs 25 people. The nomination culminated in the top businesses chosen in each category attending a breakfast at the Geor-
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gia Aquarium on September 14. Karen Sagon, Project Manager at CorrectMed, shared that “Team Original” attended the event – those who have been with CorrectMed since its inception. Those who attended recall the excitement that built as business names were called, starting at number 60. Tammy Garrison, LPN and part of Team Original, recounts, “We were at the table, and when the countdown got down to 25 and CorrectMed hadn’t been called yet, we began to get excited.” She continued, “We are only a two-year old company and to know that we were in the top 25 small businesses in the Atlanta area – well, our chests puffed out at this point! We were elated to be named number 16.” Tammy pauses for a moment, then emphasizes, “…but we should have been that high! It’s that good of a place to work. The owners and managers very much stand behind the employees. They have an open-door policy. I look forward to going to work each day – you never dread coming in. Our staff is like family, it’s not just a place to work.” Julie Hill, Referral and Allergy Testing Coor-
w w w. co r r e c t m e d . co m
dinator, picks up the narrative. “As we sat there, we had a pride in our organization. We were the only small company south of Atlanta to be chosen in that top 60. CorrectMed is a wonderful place to work in Henry County and we were so pleased to see it recognized for how it treats us as employees.” Julie said the hardest part of the Quantum survey was the question that asked about needed improvements in the work place. “I couldn’t come up with a thing!” Susan Pelchat, who greets CorrectMed patients at the front desk, exclaims, “Our table cheered the loudest when our name was called!” She, too, feels the honor is deserved. “The people here care about other people. They are here to make sacrifices and to be committed to the job of caring for our patients.” She continues, “It starts with the administration here. Their appreciation makes us better caregivers – it helps us to go that extra mile when needed.” Linda Faulkner reveals a little of what it means to be valued as an employee. CorrectMed offers its employees weekly leadership
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classes, monthly bonuses, opportunities for internal growth and self-improvement, flexibility and “awesome meetings.” Linda expounds with a laugh, “We have music, we dance, we have door prizes…” Jennifer Phelps, LPN, talks a little more about the closeness of the staff members. “We all ‘get’ to go to work, not ‘have’ to. We are a close knit group – we go out together after work.” And Jennifer Simpson, Clinical Manager, appreciates the ability to be heard in decision making processes at CorrectMed. “I’ve worked in corporate settings where you don’t feel appreciated or listened to. It’s totally different here – the leadership here is always open to ideas on how to do things better.” Congratulations and kudos to CorrectMed for earning the right to be named the 16th best small work place in metro-Atlanta!
For more information about CorrectMed, visit their website at www.correctmed.com or call 770-626-5760.
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Come meet our family. the family because “ II joined wanted to provide the same kind of care I would like for my own family.
”
Rob Sikes, PA-C, Family Medical
FAMILY PRACTICE & MINOR EMERGENCY OPEN WEEKENDS • WEEKDAYS UNTIL 8:00 P.M. • WALK-INS WELCOME
1631 Highway 20W • McDonough, GA 30253 • 770.288.2822 Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. • Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. • Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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amily Medical would like to introduce you to Rob Sikes, one of our beloved PA’s. Rob started here at FMC after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!!) and his master’s of medical science in Physician Assistant studies from Mercer University. But, Rob is not new here. He became a part of our Family when he did a clinical rotation here at FMC as a student, working alongside Allan Imes. “I fell in love with the family atmosphere here at FMC, and I knew that this was where I wanted to work. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.” says Rob. “I joined the family because I wanted to provide the same kind of care I would like for my own family.” Allan Imes, our founding provider, speaks of Rob “ Because we are such a busy practice, I have always been resistant to work with students, until Mercer approached me about Rob. I have known Rob for a long time and I had a good feeling that we would want Rob as a permanent part of our FMC family. I was right!! Rob’s compassion for people, his way with patients, and his medical skills were phenomenal. Our patients at Family Medical will tell you that Rob is straight-forward and funny. He’s open and honest and truly builds lasting relationships. This was also proven again and again during our recent medical
mission trip to Haiti. Rob was a huge asset in Haiti. Rob’s ability to relate to people, all people, made our patients in Haiti feel comfortable. He has a calming effect on his patients. He is an example of a true southern gentleman. He is calm, swift, skillful, and down-right talented,” says Allan Imes. When Rob speaks of his experience in Haiti last month you can tell it’s an emotional one. Rob explains “We made a difference! But the Haitian people enriched our lives more than we did theirs. It makes you appreciate what we have here at home.” Rob is a lifelong resident of Griffin, GA where he grew up around medicine. His father was a pharmacist and that’s where his love of medical care began. He started working at a pharmacy while he attended Griffin High School. Rob tells us, “I have always enjoyed medicine, but I wanted to work more with people. It’s less personal in the pharmacy world, and I wanted more patient interaction.” After graduating High School Rob left for the Navy. He Joined the Navy in 1995 and after completing boot camp and going through naval gunnery school he was sent to the fleet as a gunnery sailor aboard a destroyer. After spending about a year on the USS Spruance He went on to become a Naval Search and Rescue Swimmer for sixth fleet and returned to his command in Destroyer Squadron 24. He spent
most of the remainder of his active duty time at sea deployed to various regions including the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and Black Sea in support of numerous operations. He spent four more years in the reserve before leaving the Navy in 2003. “The motto of the rescue swimmer is “So others may live” and my interest in pursuing a career in the medical field is a continuation of that. “ says Rob.
“I fell in love with the family atmosphere here at FMC, and I knew that this was where I wanted to work. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.” Rob is married to Frances Sikes and they have a beautiful little girl named Savannah. Rob and his family enjoy shooting basketball, biking, and swimming, and playing guitar together. Come see us at Family Medical and meet our Southern Gentleman. We’re open 7 days a week. Monday through Friday 8 ‘til 8, Saturday 9 ‘til 7 and Sunday 10 ‘til 6. “Come join the Family.”
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FEATURE
®
HONORED BY CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPERS By Diane Smith
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outhern Journal Magazine is pleased to introduce TOTO and to share accolades for this dynamic company’s recent achievements. Many readers may not realize that Morrow, Georgia is home to the largest plumbing products manufacturer in the world. Located on Southern Road, TOTO offers a complete line of commercial and residential plumbing fixtures and fittings from faucets to Air Baths. This major employer in our community has over 450 employees and has been serving this area for over 90 years. TOTO produces 20,000 toilets monthly, yet it is also dedicated to preservation and conservation of natural resources. One of TOTO’s points of pride is that this business has long been an industry leader in green technology. According to their website
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(www.totousa.com), “TOTO embraced water and energy conservation years before government mandates. Through our constantly evolving manufacturing practices and advanced technology, we consistently lead the way in plumbing fixture efficiency and sustainability. Advanced innovations such as our EcoPower® fittings and valves, and our highly active participation in and support of the United States Green Build Council (USGBC), have made TOTO a world leader in plumbing products that have helped to advance society and help protect its future at the same time.” This state-ofthe-art plant also recycles the water they use as well as thoroughly treating it before returning it to the county. In addition to helping preserve and protect resources, these efforts recently paid off with deserved recognition by the
Chattahoochee Riverkeepers (CRK – www. chattahoochee.org). CRK is a non-profit organization dedicated to “protecting and preserving the Chattahoochee River, its lakes and tributaries for the people, fish and wildlife that depend upon them.” TOTO was named the 2012 “Best in Class – Business” by the CRK in their 2012 report, “Filling the Water Gap.” TOTO hosted the award ceremony at its Morrow plant. (The city of Atlanta and the Hartsfield Jackson Airport were also recognized for their contributions to water conservation). The awards recognized successful efforts to reduce water consumption especially as it affects the flow of water from the combined Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers. According to the SaportaReport (www.saportareport. com), “The conservation steps go to the heart of the oyster problem in Florida, where
some Floridians contend the oysters are dwindling in size and number partly because of a shortage of fresh water flowing into Apalachicola Bay from the combined rivers.” About the award, Laura Hartt, director of water policy for CRK, stated, “We are honoring TOTO USA, the city of Atlanta, and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as ‘Best in Businesses Class’ because they are showing everyone how it can be done.” William “Bill” Strang, Senior Vice President of Operations, lead the Riverkeepers and others guests on a tour of the TOTO plant following the award ceremony. He explained that efficient production of plumbing and fixtures fits with the company’s philosophy of “do well while doing good.” He expressed TOTO’s appreciation for being named Best in Class. “TOTO is honored to be recognized by the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers for our
efforts to promote sustainability and water conservation in our products and production operations. The CRK play a vital role in protecting our watersheds. TOTO’s goal is to provide water conserving products for residential and commercial bathrooms. In fact TOTO has helped Hartsfield Jackson Airport save over 3.8 million gallons per month with WaterSense toilets and urinals.”
Congratulations and thank you to TOTO for a job well done! TOTO USA, Inc. 1155 Southern Road Morrow, GA 30260 www.totousa.com 770 282 8686 678 422 4330 fax
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MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE
PINK PARTINI A HUGE SUCCESS!
M A G A Z I N E
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Magic happens because of you... Please Donate!
Bert’s Big Adventure is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families.
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To qualify for Bert’s Big Adventure, children must be between the ages of 5 and 12, live in “The Bert Show” radio listening area, prove financial need and have never been to Walt Disney World®. The trip and year-round programs create a community of families that establish lasting friendships with others facing similar challenges. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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We had been experiencing such attentive care that we had come to believe we were the only ones with a loved one in the facility.. 93
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BUSINESS PROFILE
VITAS offers a
HOME AWAY FROM HOME for Hospice Patients & Their Families
VITAS Henry County Inpatient Hospice Unit “Bathes Families in Compassion” By Paula Sanders, General Manager VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Atlanta Metro | Photo by Picture This
When physicians told Michael Yeomans that his dying wife should be admitted into hospice care, Yeomans balked and took her home. No one could care for his wife better than her family, who had lovingly cared for her during the past 20 years since she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, he thought. However, as soon as they arrived at their Stockbridge home, it became clear almost immediately that she needed specialized care that the family was not trained to provide. So Yeomans called VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Atlanta Metro for help. He recalls the relief everyone felt when, within one hour, a VITAS admissions nurse had arrived at their home and taken control of the situation, evaluating her and offering advice, recommendations and support to the family members. Yeomans then decided to take the recommendations of the VITAS hospice professionals, who explained why his wife’s unique medical needs would be best met through inpatient hospice care. Upon admission at the Henry County VITAS inpatient hospice unit (IPU) at 931 Rock Quarry Road, in Stockbridge, Cheryl Yeomans was quickly bathed and comforted. As family began to arrive at the comfortable, home-like unit that evening, they noticed that she received round-the-clock care and personalized attention, making them feel as if she were the only patient in the unit. The following day, the family realized that IPU had been almost at full capacity that night. “We
had been experiencing such attentive care that we had come to believe we were the only ones with a loved one in the facility,” Yeomans wrote in a thank-you letter to VITAS. The high level of care continued. “Over the course of Cheryl’s stay, each and every member of the staff, from management to housekeeping, demonstrated the highest degree of compassion I have ever experienced anywhere,” he wrote. “My wife and family were continually bathed in compassion every hour of every day.”
added. The unit consists of 12 private patient rooms that are decorated with soothing colors and comfortable furniture. “Our dedicated VITAS care team, home-like décor and 24/7 visiting hours make it easy for family members, friends and other loved ones to spend quality time with our patients,” Tatum said. “In addition to our high patient satisfaction scores, we are proud of the positive letters we continuously receive from our patients and their families. As they say, our VITAS IPUs are truly ‘a home away from home.’”
High-Level Care with Maximum Comfort That is precisely the goal of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, said Toni Tatum, a registered nurse and manager of the facility where Yeoman was admitted. “When people with life-limiting illnesses require close monitoring and higher levels of care, such as pain management, that cannot be provided wherever they call ‘home,’ VITAS Innovative Hospice Care’s inpatient hospice units (IPU) offer a ‘home away from home’ with maximum comfort, peace and dignity,” Tatum said. “Our VITAS IPUs provide structured environments where our hospice professionals can maximize comfort by managing our patients’ pain and symptoms.”
For the Yeomans family, the VITAS IPU in Henry County offered them peace of mind of knowing that Cheryl Yeomans received the comfort and care she deserved, as well as the precious time to reflect, reminisce, and say goodbye. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity each and every family member had to share priceless moments with my wife,” Yeomans wrote in his letter to VITAS. “I never imagined that the death of a family member could be experienced in such a dignified and beautiful way, through the loving and compassionate support from each and every soul in the vicinity. My family will never forget the expertise and compassion provided by VITAS.”
High-Quality Care in a Home-like Setting VITAS’ Henry County IPU creates an ideal environment where medical crises may be managed with care and compassion, Tatum
More information about VITAS Innovative Hospice Care is available by calling (404) 250-1806 or by visiting www.vitas.com. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • SOUTHERNJOURNALMAG.COM
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M A G A Z I N E
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